Cryptographic communication system
US5812671A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/0464
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In this system parties have network access to a network secure communications gateway which stores the current encryption/decryption algorithms and keys for parties registered with the network secure communications gateway. For party A to send an encrypted message to party B, party A encrypts the message using party A's secret key and encryption algorithm, copies of which are stored at the network gateway Party A sends the encrypted message, addressed to party B, initially to the gateway. The gateway decrypts the message, using party A's secret key and algorithm, and then encrypts the decrypted message using party B's secret key and algorithm. Finally, the gateway forwards the re-encrypted message to party B, where B decodes it using B's secret key and algorithm. The secure communications gateway periodically changes client keys (or algorithms and keys) to provide additional system security.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.